This Material Makes Water Move Upward Without Power

All you need is super-hydrophobic materials and a little moxie

Chinese researchers have created a tiny water pump that requires no power source. In other words, it can push water upward without adding energy, making for visuals like the video below that appear to defy gravity.

A copper mesh treated with an alkali solution creates a hydrophobic surface, one that repels water. That keeps the liquid moving along. But it takes placing a few drops of water underneath the mesh to coax it to move the water out of the pipe entirely.

The contraption is tiny, able to work at just a 1 cm length. But it could create efficient ways to miniature motors, medical devices, and more objects that can work on such a small scale.

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